POLS105 Comparative Politics - Introduction

How political institutions and processes work across a range of countries. Introduces
the comparative method and considers ways of conceptualising political systems and
understanding the functions of their key institutions.

Providing a foundation for understanding how politics operates in different countries,
this paper constitutes a key introduction to comparative politics. The first part
of the paper provides context through introducing the state and nation, forms
of government, and theoretical approaches and methods in comparative politics. The
second part examines the institutional framework in which politics happens and the
relationship between the different branches of government. The third part examines
the ways in which people participate in politics, how politics is communicated through
the media, political parties and interest groups, voting and elections, and how policies
are made.